Need help finding a camera...

Air Supplier · 04-20-2007, 06:34 PM

Hey everyone, ok im looking for a new camera. I dont know that much about cameras so i need help finding one. My budget is between $500-$600, i have been looking around but alot of cameras like the Nikon d50 and stuff like that is just out of my price range. Just wondering if people can just throw out some names at me so i can look into them some more...thanks alot. Oh btw, i only want digital no film or anything, and please no hate lol. Thanks alot!

DaveM · 04-20-2007, 06:37 PM

you could do a search and read through the 20+ other threads that covered this very subject in the past 6 months.

Air Supplier · 04-20-2007, 06:42 PM

ok well i tried but i cant really narrow the search down that well

shirk · 04-20-2007, 06:44 PM

Still above your price range but a great camera that you can learn how to shoot manual on is the Cannon G7. Low light could be better, but thre are no inexpensive point and shoot cams that do really well in the low light of Shore riding.

It takes pimp crisp images, has full manual control if you want to take your ppictures further than just point and shoot auto. Things it's lacking that could make it absolutley friggen amazing are RAW and a higher FPS. But Cannon wants to pus you into a DSLR i at that point.

Panasonic Lumix series are also great cameras. Go read a bunc h of reviews at DPreview.com

Air Supplier · 04-20-2007, 06:45 PM

yah im using my parents Panasonic Lumix rite now but its kinda old and it only has 4.0 Mpix as well thanx for the site as well

ImageGuy · 04-20-2007, 07:22 PM

Picking the right camera for you is a very selective thing. Get one that feels good in your hand and is easy to operate. Here are a few suggestions:

1) buy a camera made by a camera manufacturer (Canon, Nikon, Pentax, Olympus, etc.)
2) get one that has full manual controls and that includes focusing (the point & shoot cameras usually focus too slowly for any action, but manual focus allows you focus on the spot your buddy will be ripping through before hand)
3) make sure it has a view finder, under some lighting conditions the LCD screen will be hard to see
4) buy the best camera you can afford
5) get a small padded case for it if you plan on taking it on rides (extra crash protection)

CraigH · 04-20-2007, 07:29 PM

Canon G7
http://www.photographyreview.com/sf-...eviewscrx.aspx

I use a G6, the G7 is the newest model replacement.

Check out this site for camera reviews:
http://www.photographyreview.com/

This is the waterproof case I ride with:
http://www.ortliebusa.com/cartgenie/...p?pid=43&cid=2
With this harness:
http://www.ortliebusa.com/cartgenie/...p?pid=44&cid=2
I had to order it from the US as the Cdn distributor had no stock and had no idea when it would be coming in.

Bryce · 04-20-2007, 07:45 PM

what'r you gonna do with the camera?

If you just want to point-n-shoot when you're riding with friends, then paying more for full manual may not be worth it. But if you're gonna take the time to make photos look just exactly perfect, then full manual is key. You may not need manual focus - you can pre-focus on something equidistant as the rider.

But what can cause you endless grief with riding photos is shutter delay, especially for jumping pics. Some cameras are better than others. It may be just a split second but thats all it takes to miss the pinnacle of the action. So play with them in the store if you can. I don't know which brands are faster than others

get something that works well in low light, with or without a flash.

will you want to try different lenses? If so, you need either a DSLR or something with a threaded lens

If you're not going to blow stuff up to poster size, then 5mp should be adequate

I would check those photo review sites - they have a lot of detailed info and test photos etc...

BareFootMeshback · 04-20-2007, 08:30 PM

Don't get too sucked into the mega-pixel thing. 4.0 mega pixels is actually pretty good, sure 11mp is arguably better but unless you are doing really big enlargements or hyper detailed landscapes its not really necessary in my opinion. I would be more concerned with the overall quality of the camera, especially the lens, as well as the speed of the said lens.

shirk · 04-20-2007, 08:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CraigH

Canon G7
http://www.photographyreview.com/sf-...eviewscrx.aspx

I use a G6, the G7 is the newest model replacement.

Check out this site for camera reviews:
http://www.photographyreview.com/

This is the waterproof case I ride with:
http://www.ortliebusa.com/cartgenie/...p?pid=43&cid=2
With this harness:
http://www.ortliebusa.com/cartgenie/...p?pid=44&cid=2
I had to order it from the US as the Cdn distributor had no stock and had no idea when it would be coming in.

You ride with that big case and the G6?

I use a the smallest neoprene Roots case I could find and sling the starp across my chest and tuck the camera up into my armpit area. Have been carry a camera there skiing and biking with no issues teh last couple seasons.

CraigH · 04-20-2007, 08:51 PM

I ride with it chest mounted for XC/AM rides. I've never used it for FR rides yet. The Ortlieb case I use is the smallest they make. When riding I don't even notice it there. I'll see if I can find a pic of me wearing it. One reason I went with the waterproof case it is also dust. We ride in the desert quite often so wanted to protect the camera from both dust and local rain.

Edit to ad pic.

Spaz · 04-20-2007, 09:42 PM

A camera I have used is an Olympus SP-500UZ (now the SP-510UZ). It is cheaper and smaller than a digital SLR but still has all the apeture, shutter speed and manual settings. It also has a 10x optical zoom. It is basically as close as you can get to a full SLR in a point and shoot camera. Easily within your price range as well.

Check it here.

Knnn · 04-20-2007, 09:55 PM

Dpreviews and Steve's digicams are probably the best web sites for reviews and comparisons, go here:

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/compare.asp
http://www.steves-digicams.com/best_cameras.html

My Brother in law has a Canon S3 IS, 6.0 MP, 36-432 zoom (12x opitcal), image stabilization and shoots TV quality movies (640x480 at 30 fps). Its a full size camara but shots very nice images.

For something a little smaller, I have had great results from Powershot series like the A75 or A700.

One factor you may wish to consider is the type of battery it uses. I like a camera to use regular AA's so I can use rechargables and have a spare set handy when the inevitable happens or you can just pop into a store and pick some up. It's a pain if they use the proprietary battery packs and the battery goes flat at the wrong moment.

HTH

Shaker666 · 04-20-2007, 10:13 PM

You could probably pick up an 8 megapixel Canon Digital Rebel (an older one) for the price you're looking at. Super high quality stuff and the camera body itself is pretty small. The lens however, is a different story.

connor · 04-20-2007, 10:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shaker666

You could probably pick up an 8 megapixel Canon Digital Rebel (an older one) for the price you're looking at. Super high quality stuff and the camera body itself is pretty small. The lens however, is a different story.

yeah like mine.. awesome camera, all the goodies you need, cheap..

http://buysell.nsmb.com/showproduct....ct/6522/cat/30

04-20-2007, 06:37 PM	#2
DaveM www.davemackie.ca Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Coquitlam Posts: 13,914 Rep Power: 15403500	you could do a search and read through the 20+ other threads that covered this very subject in the past 6 months. __________________ www.davemackie.ca

04-20-2007, 06:44 PM	#4
shirk Registered User Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: North Van Posts: 7,339 Rep Power: 5191786	Still above your price range but a great camera that you can learn how to shoot manual on is the Cannon G7. Low light could be better, but thre are no inexpensive point and shoot cams that do really well in the low light of Shore riding. It takes pimp crisp images, has full manual control if you want to take your ppictures further than just point and shoot auto. Things it's lacking that could make it absolutley friggen amazing are RAW and a higher FPS. But Cannon wants to pus you into a DSLR i at that point. Panasonic Lumix series are also great cameras. Go read a bunc h of reviews at DPreview.com __________________ www.roostoutfitters.com

04-20-2007, 07:22 PM	#6
ImageGuy Registered User Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Nesters Posts: 29 Rep Power: 0	Picking the right camera for you is a very selective thing. Get one that feels good in your hand and is easy to operate. Here are a few suggestions: 1) buy a camera made by a camera manufacturer (Canon, Nikon, Pentax, Olympus, etc.) 2) get one that has full manual controls and that includes focusing (the point & shoot cameras usually focus too slowly for any action, but manual focus allows you focus on the spot your buddy will be ripping through before hand) 3) make sure it has a view finder, under some lighting conditions the LCD screen will be hard to see 4) buy the best camera you can afford 5) get a small padded case for it if you plan on taking it on rides (extra crash protection) __________________ Beer and Cheezy Poofs, Mmmm... good! Last edited by ImageGuy; 04-20-2007 at 07:25 PM.

04-20-2007, 07:29 PM	#7
CraigH Tear it all out! Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: North Delta, BC Posts: 7,767 Rep Power: 666	Canon G7 http://www.photographyreview.com/sf-...eviewscrx.aspx I use a G6, the G7 is the newest model replacement. Check out this site for camera reviews: http://www.photographyreview.com/ This is the waterproof case I ride with: http://www.ortliebusa.com/cartgenie/...p?pid=43&cid=2 With this harness: http://www.ortliebusa.com/cartgenie/...p?pid=44&cid=2 I had to order it from the US as the Cdn distributor had no stock and had no idea when it would be coming in. Last edited by CraigH; 04-20-2007 at 07:37 PM.

04-20-2007, 08:51 PM	#11
CraigH Tear it all out! Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: North Delta, BC Posts: 7,767 Rep Power: 666	I ride with it chest mounted for XC/AM rides. I've never used it for FR rides yet. The Ortlieb case I use is the smallest they make. When riding I don't even notice it there. I'll see if I can find a pic of me wearing it. One reason I went with the waterproof case it is also dust. We ride in the desert quite often so wanted to protect the camera from both dust and local rain. Edit to ad pic. Last edited by CraigH; 04-20-2007 at 08:53 PM.

04-20-2007, 07:45 PM	#8
Bryce Registered Abuser Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: high as f%*k Posts: 6,979 Rep Power: 3139475	what'r you gonna do with the camera? If you just want to point-n-shoot when you're riding with friends, then paying more for full manual may not be worth it. But if you're gonna take the time to make photos look just exactly perfect, then full manual is key. You may not need manual focus - you can pre-focus on something equidistant as the rider. But what can cause you endless grief with riding photos is shutter delay, especially for jumping pics. Some cameras are better than others. It may be just a split second but thats all it takes to miss the pinnacle of the action. So play with them in the store if you can. I don't know which brands are faster than others get something that works well in low light, with or without a flash. will you want to try different lenses? If so, you need either a DSLR or something with a threaded lens If you're not going to blow stuff up to poster size, then 5mp should be adequate I would check those photo review sites - they have a lot of detailed info and test photos etc...

04-20-2007, 08:30 PM	#9
BareFootMeshback Registered User Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: By the Aldergrove drug tunnel Posts: 1,580 Rep Power: 213434	Don't get too sucked into the mega-pixel thing. 4.0 mega pixels is actually pretty good, sure 11mp is arguably better but unless you are doing really big enlargements or hyper detailed landscapes its not really necessary in my opinion. I would be more concerned with the overall quality of the camera, especially the lens, as well as the speed of the said lens.

04-20-2007, 09:42 PM	#12
Spaz Registered User Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Coquitlam Posts: 675 Rep Power: 98306	A camera I have used is an Olympus SP-500UZ (now the SP-510UZ). It is cheaper and smaller than a digital SLR but still has all the apeture, shutter speed and manual settings. It also has a 10x optical zoom. It is basically as close as you can get to a full SLR in a point and shoot camera. Easily within your price range as well. Check it here. __________________ It's all about fun. My Blog

04-20-2007, 09:55 PM	#13
Knnn 0-casualty in 2.4 secs Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Upper Lynn Valley Posts: 3,860 Rep Power: 1478150	Dpreviews and Steve's digicams are probably the best web sites for reviews and comparisons, go here: http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/compare.asp http://www.steves-digicams.com/best_cameras.html My Brother in law has a Canon S3 IS, 6.0 MP, 36-432 zoom (12x opitcal), image stabilization and shoots TV quality movies (640x480 at 30 fps). Its a full size camara but shots very nice images. For something a little smaller, I have had great results from Powershot series like the A75 or A700. One factor you may wish to consider is the type of battery it uses. I like a camera to use regular AA's so I can use rechargables and have a spare set handy when the inevitable happens or you can just pop into a store and pick some up. It's a pain if they use the proprietary battery packs and the battery goes flat at the wrong moment. HTH __________________ Please let me demonstrate the ride around; really it's no trouble.

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